Tiger River® Spas - Olympic Hot Tub Company

VACATION CARE INSTRUCTIONS
If you plan to be away from home, follow these instructions to ensure that the water quality of your spa is maintained:
SHORT TIME PERIODS (3-5 DAYS):
1. Adjust the pH by following the instructions outlined in the Water Quality and Maintenance section.
2. Sanitize the water by following the shock procedures also listed in the Water Quality section.
3. Lock your cover in place using the cover lock straps.
4. Upon your return, sanitize the water by following the shock procedures, and balance the pH.
LONG TIME PERIODS (5-14 DAYS):
Prior to leaving:
1. At least one day before you leave, set the temperature to its lowest level. This setting should be 80°F (26°C).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Spa water oxidizers such as sodium dichlor (chlorine) maintain their level of effectiveness substantially longer in warm
water (80°F, or 26°C) than in hot water (101°F to 104°F, or 38°C to 40°C).
2. Adjust the pH as required. Sanitize the water by following the shock procedures.
Upon your return:
3. Sanitize the water by following the shock procedures. Return the set temperature to its original setting. The spa water will be safe for you to
use once the Free Chlorine Residual level has dropped below 5.0 ppm.
NOTE: If you will not be using your spa for an extended period of time (in excess of 14 days) and an outside maintenance service (or neighbor)
is not available to assist with the water maintenance, draining or winterizing of the spa is recommended. Spas equipped with our FreshWater ®
III ozone system can extend this to 4 weeks. The FreshWater III ozone system does not guard against possible freezing damage, however.
PREVENTION OF FREEZING
Your Tiger River ® spa has been designed and engineered for year-round use in any climate. In some areas, extremely cold temperatures (below
10°F, or -23°C), combined with strong wind, may cause partial freezing of the jet pump, even though the water inside the spa remains at the
selected temperature. The energy efficiency of the spa may also decrease during these cold periods, as the heater will cycle more frequently. To
avoid most problems associated with component freezing, the 24-hour continuous filtration system has been designed with bleed lines
connecting the jet pump with the heating/filtering system. Since the heating system’s circulation pump runs continuously, cooler water in the
heating and filtering systems is continually being replaced by warm water from the spa. As an additional precaution against partial freezing of
some of the components, the equipment compartment can be insulated with an insulating kit (available from your Tiger River dealer). This
insulating kit will also help to maximize the spa’s energy efficiency.
NOTE: When warmer weather returns (approx. 60°-70°F, or 16°-21°C), the insulating kit must be removed to prevent overheating of the jet pump.
Please contact your Tiger River dealer for additional information, or to order the insulating kit .
WINTERIZING
In very cold weather you may not want to venture outside to use your spa. In this case, you may move it to a heated area, or leave it as is until the
weather warms. If you do leave the spa unused for a long period of time in severely cold weather, you should drain the spa to avoid accidental
freezing due to a power or equipment failure.
IMPORTANT: The following steps should protect your spa from freezing damage provided these instructions are followed exactly. For maximum
protection against freeze damage to your spa, Watkins Manufacturing Corporation recommends contacting your local Tiger River dealer to
schedule an in-home Propylene glycol (anti-freeze) Winterizing Service plan. If the following instructions are not followed, damage due to freezing
water in the plumbing lines may occur! THIS DAMAGE MAY VOID YOUR WARRANTY.
Your local authorized dealer can perform the following winterizing steps if you do not wish to attempt them yourself:
1. Disconnect the spa from the power supply by the appropriate method:
115 volt models: Disconnect the power cord from the house receptacle, coil it and place it in the equipment compartment.
230 volt models: Trip both of the GFCI breakers located in the subpanel.
2. Remove the screws from the equipment access door; remove the door completely (for 115 volt models only).
3. Locate the main drain valve and remove the drain cap. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and route the outlet of the hose to an
appropriate draining area.
4. Open the valve and the spa will drain by gravitational flow.
5. Remove the threaded cap from the secondary drain. The remaining water (about 1 gallon) will drain from the bleedline system.
6. Remove the filter cartridge, then clean and store the cartridge in a dry place.
IMPORTANT: Wipe out any residual water from inside the spa and the recesses of the filter compartment. Wipe all surfaces dry.
Spa Care and Maintenance
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